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Family leisure involvement may provide the first and most essential context for positive youth development in today's society. Similar to the broader ecological perspective used in the youth development literature, family systems theory suggests that each individual in the family influences the whole, while the whole family also influences each individual. From a systems perspective, examination of family variables is likely to provide valuable insight into both family and individual outcomes. This logic suggests it may be useful to examine family leisure and related family outcomes particularly from the perspective of an adolescent family member. Such an approach provides valuable insight and direction when considering family leisure as a context for positive youth development. When considering family leisure from a youth perspective, the core and balance model provides a useful framework. The model, grounded in family systems theory, indicates that involvement in different patterns of family leisure contributes to family functioning in different ways. It identifies two basic categories or patterns of family leisure, core and balance, that families use to meet needs for both stability and change, and ultimately facilitate outcomes of family cohesion and adaptability which are primary components of family functioning. The core and balance model has provided a useful theoretical framework for examining family leisure among diverse family samples. The authors cite results from studies that examine the quality of family leisure involvement. They discuss youth perspectives of family leisure outcomes and present implications for families and youth programs when considering positive youth development within a family leisure context. (Contains 1 figure and 32 notes.)

The purpose of this study was to examine family communication within the core and balance model of family leisure functioning. The study was conducted from a youth perspective of family leisure and family functioning. The sample consisted of youth (N= 95) aged 11 - 17 from 25 different states in the United States. Path analyses indicated that family communication mediated a positive relationship between family leisure variables and family functioning variables. Implications and recommendations are discussed. The addition of communication in the Core and Balance Model is recommended.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a campus-wide intramural wheelchair sports program on attitudes toward people with disabilities. The sample consisted of 126 participants at a large, western university. A quasi-experimental pre-post design was used. Results indicated that there was a significant decrease in discomfort in interaction with people with disabilities after participation in the program. Additional findings indicated that recreation majors who were required to have some disability awareness training in their coursework had statistically lower pre- and post-test scores than other majors and demonstrated the greatest change in attitude toward people with disabilities. Implications and recommendations are discussed.

Examined relationships between family leisure involvement and satisfaction with family life. Data on families recruited through middle schools indicated that parents, but not children, considered family leisure involvement the strongest predictor of satisfaction. At the family level, only the block including core and balance family leisure variables explained a significant portion of the variance in satisfaction. History of divorce negatively predicted family satisfaction across all three perspectives. (SM)

Two studies collected quantitative and qualitative data from 24 families participating in an 8-hour outdoor adventure program and from 11 families in a residential family camping program. Findings demonstrate a strong positive relationship between structured outdoor family programming and family strength, and suggest that adventure activities typically used in family therapy are also effective in providing family enrichment experiences. (Contains 58 references.) (Author/SV)

Conducted a preliminary test of a model of family leisure functioning by examining the relationship of core and balance family leisure patterns to family cohesion and adaptability. Hypothesized that core leisure patterns address family needs for stability and facilitate cohesive relationships, whereas balance leisure patterns address the need for change and are related to perceptions of adaptability. (BF)

Comparatively analyzes the process of and trends in program accreditation in parks and recreation curricula and health care, noting implications for the future of accreditation. The paper makes recommendations to improve specialized accreditation in parks and recreation due to the increasing demand for identifying quality via outcome measurement. (SM)

Marital satisfaction has been psychometrically measured using many different instruments not soundly based on theory. The Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS), consisting of 14 items, is commonly accepted by researchers and practitioners to measure marital satisfaction but was not specifically designed to measure marital satisfaction. The Satisfaction with Married Life Scale (SWML), consisting of five items, is a short scale specifically targeted toward measuring marital satisfaction. An online sample collected from 1,187 couples throughout the United States was used to compare these instruments' correlation (r = .782), factor structures, reliability (SWML, [alpha] = .958; RDAS, [alpha] = .943), theoretical foundation, and validity. These instruments are on parity with each other when measuring marital satisfaction; however, each instrument yields implications for practitioners and researchers desiring to measure marital satisfaction. KEYWORDS marital satisfaction, satisfaction with married life, scale development

The purpose of the study was to examine the leisure patterns of nonresident fathers while spending time with their child(ren), and to examine leisure constraints, leisure facilitators and nonresident fathers' [...]

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family religiosity, family leisure, and family functioning. The sample consisted of 121 parents and 99 youth from various religious groups. Results indicated a positive relationship between family religiosity and family leisure. Both family religiosity and family leisure had a significant relationship with family functioning in this sample. Data collected from both parents and youth provided insight into the influence of family religiosity and family leisure on family functioning. Family religiosity was the strongest predictor of family functioning for parents. For youth, both family leisure and family religiosity were significant predictors of family functioning. Findings provide specific implications for future family leisure research, as well as for parents and professionals who work with families. doi:10.1300/J002v42n02_04 KEYWORDS. Family functioning, family leisure, family religiosity, family strengths

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between family of origin rituals and young adults' attachment style when controlling for parents' attachment style. The sample consisted of 222 paired young adults and one parent (representing 208 families) from 36 different states. Family of origin rituals were measured using the Family Ritual Questionnaire (FRQ) and attachment was measured using the Experiences in Close Relationships Revised (ECR-R) Questionnaire. Results indicated a negative relationship between family of origin ritual meaning and young adult attachment anxiety. Results also indicated that family of origin ritual meaning significantly predicted young adult anxiety after controlling for parent attachment. doi: 10.1300/J002v42n01_02 KEYWORDS. Attachment, family, family leisure, rituals, young adults

The purpose of this study was to determine the athletic identity of elite skiers with disabilities and explore its relationship to select demographic variables. In addition, the factor structure of the Athletic Identity Measure Scale (ALMS) was examined. Thirty-three participants in the 2002 Huntsman Cup completed usable surveys. The Cup was the final international qualifying event for the 2002 Paralympics. Results indicated that these elite skiers with disabilities had comparable levels of athletic identity to athletes who do not have disabilities but who compete in sport at similar levels of intensity. The results did not support claims that athletic identity consists of a fourth factor entitled self-identity which is thought to be distinct to individuals with disabilities. Discussion of the results and implication for practitioners and researchers are provided., Athletic identity is defined as the degree to which an individual identifies with the role of an athlete and will look to others for confirmation of that role (Brewer, Van [...]

The purpose of this study was to further clarify the relationship between couple leisure patterns and marital satisfaction by examining the contribution of joint couple leisure involvement, leisure time, and leisure satisfaction to couples' satisfaction with married life. The sample consisted of 48 married couples (N = 96). The Marital Activity Profile (MAP), a modified version of the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to determine couple leisure involvement in core and balance leisure activities and leisure satisfaction. The Satisfaction With Married Life (SWML), a modified version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) was used to measure marital satisfaction. Blocked multiple regression analyses indicated a positive relationship between satisfaction with couple leisure and marital satisfaction, specifically satisfaction with core leisure activity patterns. Implications and recommendations for further research are discussed. KEYWORDS. Couple leisure, family systems, leisure satisfaction, marital satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible formation of surrogate families within Ugandan schools, especially among orphans who lack positive development opportunities typically provided by parents. This qualitative study sample of 66 Ugandan secondary school students were selected from eight schools in the Mukono district of Uganda. Findings suggest a potentially widespread family formation pattern between students and their teachers. More than 75% of students interviewed self-identified their teacher as family. Some teachers were able to offer orphans and vulnerable children positive developmental assets and were, therefore, identified as family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to, first, determine whether positive relationships between family leisure (involvement and satisfaction) and family outcomes (cohesion, adaptability, family functioning, and satisfaction with family life) were present in a multinational sample, and second, determine whether the core and balance model could provide a consistent framework for between country comparisons of relationships between family leisure and family outcome variables cross nationally. Familieswere recruited fromAustralia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Data were analyzed using blocked multiple regression models, and generalized linear models to compare relationships across countries. Overall, findings indicated positive relationships between family leisure and family outcomes were consistent across all five countries. Some differences in relationship strength, not directionality, occurred primarily in family leisure involvement rather than family leisure satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the purpose and function of recreational family storytelling across the life span from the perspective of parents and their adult children. Twelve individuals were interviewed (six parents paired with one of their adult children). Questions focused on ascertaining the purpose and function of storytelling from the perspectives of parents and children in the same family unit. In these families storytelling created opportunities for family bonding. Storytelling accomplished its purpose of creating family bonds through five functions: being fun, dealing with difficult topics or situations, transferring beliefs and values as well as giving listeners role models to emulate, offering the opportunity to take new perspectives, and purposefully initiating closeness between family members. The purpose and function of storytelling in the family appeared to change across the life span. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]